I didn't come to wave or take pictures - For Fragrant_Hitachiin

[saltinourstars]

Most paparazzi keep away from Kei. Hitachiin Legal loves a restraining order, and that’s enough for a semi-normal life.

But public games are public, and Kei spots at least three in the stands. Nondescript hair, clothes, faces. So plain they scream among the colorful crowd. One even has the nerve to smile, when he catches Kei’s glare.

Ugh.

Never mind.

Exhaling, he shuts them out. Settling into the tempo of his team. The rhythm and flow of defense, rising to a higher crescendo each time. It feels good. Kei's spent four years building with Todai, and they're contenders for Nationals. Maybe even favorites.

This is what matters.

Not the paparazzi with their gossip and grins.

Comments

[fragrant_hitachiin]

If you really think you're better than join a team!!
We'll settle this on the court

[saltinourstars]

Aren't you ever going to get new material?

Really. It's the same as high school, Hinata throwing down the gauntlet with no thought. There was Kageyama and Aoba Josai and Ushijima and Nekoma and...

Kei.

Huh.

That's quite a group to be in.

[fragrant_hitachiin]

Volleyball is how we met so it makes sense to let that be the judge!!

Not really, but Hinata thinks so, anyways.

[saltinourstars]

I am not joining a team just for your weird vendetta

For the record

[fragrant_hitachiin]

But you ARE joining right???
You gotta!

[saltinourstars]

I don't GOTTA do anything you volleyball freak

BUT

I'm going to think about it




Thanks

[fragrant_hitachiin]

:)
Good luck
See you on the court >:)

[saltinourstars]

"Ugh, he's a pain," Kei mutters. Tossing aside the phone with no real venom.

[fragrant_hitachiin]

Kaoru, who'd been watching all the faces Kei was making at his phone with ever growing amusement, snorts when it all comes to an end. "Tamaki's worse."

Then he gets up and stretches his arms. "Want some tea? I'm making."

[saltinourstars]

"They are both the Worst. Co-worst. They can fight over it."

Tea would be good. Something to stabilize the enthusiasm overdose. Kei makes an assenting noise, but doesn't follow. Folding arms across his knees to think.

[fragrant_hitachiin]

Kaoru makes a disappointed noise. "Knowing them, they'd just be loud and get along about it."

He kisses Kei's head on his way out of the room, and then returns with two steaming cups of tea a few minutes later.

"Wanna share what's on your mind?"

[saltinourstars]

Or they would end up declaring each other the best and get even more insufferable.

"He challenged me."

It's ridiculous, right? How old are they?

Kei accepts his steaming mug, notes the warmth through the ceramic. Too hot for drinking. He settles for breathing in deep. Enjoying whatever absurdly fancy blend Kaoru's picked this time.

[fragrant_hitachiin]

Kaoru snorts, mostly amused by Kei's own incredulous tone. "Why are you surprised? Hinata never stopped being fifteen."

He picks up his teacup and smiles against the rim. "But you know? I think you like the challenge. You can't tell me he hasn't lit a fire under you."

[saltinourstars]

"Tch. Not even the Pros have enough people for his rivalry complex."

Kei rolls his eyes.

Not actually denying Kaoru's point.

[fragrant_hitachiin]

"Well, that's because they don't have you," Kaoru points out. "Yet. But you shouldn't make your decision based on what Hinata wants. Of course he's going to want you to go pro."

He takes a tentative sip of his tea, which is still hot. Ow.

[saltinourstars]

No. They don't. But they want him, and hearing that desire expressed... It's not nothing.

Kei snickers at whatever face his fiancé's just made.

So graceful.

"Oh come on. Do I look like the kind of person to join a team completely out of spite?"

[fragrant_hitachiin]

Kaoru puts his teacup down on the table with a little scowl.

As to whether Kei would join a team out of spite, he raises a single eyebrow. "Wouldn't you? Admit it, you'd do at least partially out of spite." He pauses, then adds. "But so what. If that's what motivates you, it's fine, as long as you enjoy where you end up."

He lets that statement sit, and scowls at his teacup again.

"I burned my tongue. Kiss it better?"

[saltinourstars]

Kaoru could have called Kei out Karasuno. Because spite was exactly why. Instead, he points out the upside. That motivation is motivation, and maybe the form of it doesn't matter.

Not as much as the final decision.

Kei leans in and grants that kiss. With no sass at all.

[fragrant_hitachiin]

Kaoru smiles. He understands that the kiss means Kei's mind is settling, not so lost in the problem he's facing that he can't see what's around him. It feels good to have his playfulness reciprocated, to feel valued. Not that Kei doesn't always value him, but Kaoru can feel helpless in the face of Kei's stress and anxiety, and that's where insecurity looms.

After the kiss, he leans back. "For what it's worth, I think you should hear them out. Try it. If you don't like it, you don't have to stay."

[saltinourstars]

"Fair enough."

It's better to have more information. Tonight's been a good start. Feeling more settled, he blows across the cup's surface. Cooling it enough for a sip.

Then approximately 300 more message alerts chime.

Spluttering, Kei scoops up the phone. Face going dark as thunderclouds.

"Damnit, he told Bokuto!"

[fragrant_hitachiin]

Kaoru laughs. He reaches for Kei's phone and turns it off. The room goes blessedly quiet.

"Oops, guess you must have missed his texts."